Middletown Teacher Arrested

Middletown Teacher Arrested

Posted By
Robert Humphrey

As reported by Maria Armental in the March 14, 2013 edition of the Providence Journal, a Middletown Teacher has been arrested for simple assault. He is accused of assaulting a female student. He and the student were romantically involved. The teacher has been suspended with pay pending the investigation.

Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 11-5-3, every person who shall make an assault or battery or both shall be imprisoned not exceeding one year or fined not exceeding one thousand dollars ($1,000), or both. The teacher is charged with domestic simple assault because of his relationship with the student. If convicted, the penalties would also include domestic violence counseling and a no-contact order.

The age of consent in Rhode Island is sixteen (16) years old. The student is seventeen (17) years old so the student was legally permitted to have a relationship with her teacher. Unless there is evidence that the relationship began before the student was sixteen (16), there is no crime. Pursuant to R.I.G.L. 11-37-6, third degree sexual assault is defined as a person is guilty of third degree sexual assault if he or she is over the age of eighteen (18) years and engaged in sexual penetration with another person over the age of fourteen (14) years and under the age of consent, sixteen (16) years of age.